Flow tent for an agricultural product bin

ABSTRACT

An implement for dispensing agricultural product. The implement comprises a bin for holding agricultural product, with the bin including a plurality of product openings for dispensing agricultural product from the bin. The implement additionally includes a plurality of metering devices secured to a bottom of the bin and configured to receive agricultural product from the bin through the product openings. The implement further includes a plurality of flow tents positioned within the bin. Each flow tent is positioned between a pair of the product openings. The flow tents extend upward from an interior side of the bottom of the bin so as to guide agricultural product towards the product openings.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are directed generally toagricultural implements for seeding. In more detail, embodiments of thepresent invention are directed to agricultural implements that includeseed bins and seed metering devices for dispensing seed and otheragricultural products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Certain agricultural implements, such as seed drills are configured todispense agricultural products (e.g., seed and/or treatment) into oronto the ground. Commonly, a seed drill will include one or more binsthat hold agricultural product. As the seed drill is pulled through afield by a tractor or other prime mover, agricultural product can bedispensed from the bins via a plurality of metering devices associatedwith the bins.

Unfortunately, previously-used metering devices were often difficult tomodify/adjust for use with different agricultural products. Forinstance, most previously-used metering devices were only configured foruse with a single type of agricultural product, e.g., for use with aspecific type of seed or treatment. Thus, if an operator wished toinitially plant a specific type of seed into or onto the ground, theoperator would initially use a plurality of metering devices of a firsttype to dispense the specific type of seed into or onto the ground. Ifthe operator subsequently wished to apply a specific type of treatmentinto or onto the ground, the operator would be required to complete thedifficult and time-consuming task of changing out each of the meteringdevices of the first type with a plurality of metering devices of asecond type (i.e., metering devices configured to dispense the specifictype of treatment).

In addition, previously-used metering devices were difficult andtime-consuming to repair, clean, and otherwise maintain. Specifically,it has been generally difficult to access the interior space ofpreviously-used metering devices. As such, maintenance and clean-outs ofsuch metering devices (which required access to the interior spaces ofthe metering devices) necessitated the complete removal of the meteringdevices from the bins. In addition, if an operator wished to calibratethe metering devices, the calibration process would involve thedifficult and time-consuming process of removing the individual meteringdevices from the bins, and then individually measuring and adjustingspecifications and/or characteristics (e.g., dispensing rate) of eachmetering device.

Finally, it has been problematic for many previously-used bins toefficiently and completely distribute all of the agricultural productheld within the bins to the associated seed meters for depositing intoor onto the ground. Such previously-used bins would often have interiorportions that would unwantedly trap or otherwise hold agriculturalproduct within the bins. Such trapped agricultural product would have tobe removed (or cleaned-out) from the bins by hand, which is a difficultand time-consuming process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided animplement for dispensing agricultural product. The implement comprises abin for holding agricultural product, with the bin including a pluralityof product openings for dispensing agricultural product from the bin.The implement additionally includes a plurality of metering devicessecured to a bottom of the bin and configured to receive agriculturalproduct from the bin through the product openings. The implement furtherincludes a plurality of flow tents positioned within the bin. Each flowtent is positioned between a pair of the product openings. The flowtents extend upward from an interior side of the bottom of the bin so asto guide agricultural product towards the product openings.

In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a flowtent for guiding agricultural product flowing through a bin. The flowtent comprises a thin, plastically deformable main body. The main bodyis configured to bend along a centerline such that the main bodypresents a pair of sides that slope downward from the centerline. Theflow tent further includes a plurality of attachment elements extendingfrom a bottom surface of the main body. The attachment elements areconfigured to engage with openings formed in the bin.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided amethod of dispensing agricultural product from an implement. The methodcomprising the step of inserting a plurality of flow tents intoengagement with a bin. The flow tents are each positioned between a pairof product openings formed through a bottom of the bin. The methodincludes the additional step of adding agricultural product into thebin. The method includes the further step of dispensing the agriculturalproduct from the bin through the product openings. During the dispensingstep, the flow tents guide the agricultural product towards the productopenings.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the detaileddescription. This summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspectsand advantages of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanyingdrawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments of the present invention are described herein with referenceto the following drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an agricultural implement according toembodiments of the present invention, with the agricultural implementpropelling a plurality of bins that each include a plurality of meteringdevices for metering agricultural product from the bins into or onto theground;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of an underside of one of the binsfrom the agricultural implement of FIG. 1, with the bin including aplurality of metering devices attached to a bottom of the bin;

FIG. 3 is a lower perspective view of a bottom section of a bin from theagricultural implement from FIG. 1, with the bottom section of the binincluding a row of metering devices secured to a bottom of the bottomsection of the bin;

FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of the bottom section of the binfrom FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged upper perspective view of a portion of the bottomsection of the bin shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an upper perspective view of a flow tent according toembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a lower perspective view of the flow tent from FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the flow tent from FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross section of the flow tent from FIGS. 6-8 taken alongthe line 9-9 from FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross section of the bottom section of the bin taken alongthe line 10-10 from FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a metering device according toembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the metering device from FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective exploded view of the metering device fromFIGS. 11 and 12;

FIG. 14 is a front perspective exploded view of the metering device fromFIGS. 11-13;

FIG. 15 is another front perspective view of the metering device fromFIGS. 11-14, particularly illustrating a first product door in the openposition;

FIG. 16 is another front perspective view of the metering device fromFIGS. 11-15, particularly illustrating a second product door in the openposition;

FIG. 17 is another front perspective view of the metering device fromFIGS. 11-16, particularly illustrating a portion of the first productdoor cut away to illustrate notches for securing the first product doorin open positions;

FIG. 18 is perspective view of an upper side of the first product doorfrom FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 is perspective view of a lower side of the first product doorshown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is perspective view of an upper side of the second product doorfrom FIG. 16;

FIG. 21 is perspective view of a lower side of the second product doorshown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a cross section of a metering device according to embodimentsof the present invention, with the metering device secured to a bottomof a bin, and with the metering device conveying agricultural productfrom the bin and through the metering device;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a first side of a metering assemblyaccording to embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a second side of the metering assemblyfrom FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a first side exploded view of the metering assembly fromFIGS. 23 and 24;

FIG. 26 is a second side exploded view of the metering assembly fromFIGS. 23-25;

FIG. 27 is a rearward perspective view of a portion of a bottom of thebin from FIG. 3, particularly illustrating a metering device secured tothe bottom of the bin and a lever and a driveshaft for adjusting aposition of a gate assembly within the metering device;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the metering device from FIGS. 11-14,with portions of the metering device cut away to illustrate a dividerseparating an interior space of the metering device into a first productspace and a second product space;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a first side of a gate assemblyaccording to embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a second side of the gate assembly fromFIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a first side exploded view of the gate assembly from FIGS. 29and 30;

FIG. 32 is a second side exploded view of the gate assembly from FIGS.29-31;

FIG. 33 is another perspective view of the metering device from FIGS.11-14, with portions of the metering device cut away to illustrate aproduct channel presented between a gate assembly and metering wheels ofthe metering device;

FIG. 34 is a forward perspective view of the portion of the bottom ofthe bin from FIG. 27, particularly illustrating the lever and thedriveshaft for adjusting a position of the gate assembly within themetering device;

FIG. 35 is a cross section of a portion of a metering device accordingto embodiments of the present invention, with the metering devicesecured to a bottom of a bin, and with the metering device including agate assembly configured in an installation position, and particularlyillustrating a gate key in alignment with an upper housing of themetering device so as to facilitate insertion or removal of the gate keythrough the upper housing;

FIG. 36 is a side elevation view of the metering device from FIGS.11-14, particularly illustrating a gate key partially out of alignmentwith an upper housing of the metering device such that a gate assemblyis in a cleanout position;

FIG. 37 is a cross section of the metering device from FIG. 36 securedto a bottom of a bin, and further illustrating the gate assembly in thecleanout position;

FIG. 38 is another cross section of the metering device secured to abottom of the bin, as is shown in FIG. 22, and particularly illustratingthe metering device conveying a large object through an interior spaceof the metering device;

FIG. 39 is a side elevation view of the metering device from FIGS.11-14, particularly illustrating a lower housing of the metering devicebeing unsecured from an upper housing of the metering device;

FIG. 40 is another side elevation view of the metering device from FIG.38, particularly illustrating the lower housing being removed from theupper housing;

FIG. 41 is an upper perspective view of a calibration system configuredfor attachment to portions of one or more metering devices that aresecured to a bottom of a bin;

FIG. 42 is a lower perspective view of the calibration system from FIG.41 configured for attachment with the portions of the one or moremetering devices;

FIG. 43 is an upper perspective view of the calibration system fromFIGS. 41 and 42 in attachment with the portions of the one or moremetering devices;

FIG. 44 is lower perspective view of the calibration system from FIGS.41-43 in attachment with the portions of the one or more meteringdevices;

FIG. 45 is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of acalibration system configured to be positioned under one or moremetering devices that are secured to a bottom of a bin; and

FIG. 46 is a perspective view of the calibration system from FIG. 45secured underneath the one or more metering devices.

The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specificembodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the present invention referencesvarious embodiments. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects ofthe invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changescan be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in alimiting sense. The scope of the present invention is defined only bythe appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to whichsuch claims are entitled.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed generally toagricultural implements, such as seed and/or treatment drill 10illustrated in FIG. 1. The drill 10 may comprise a frame 12 that istowed by a tractor or other prime mover (not shown). The frame 12 mayinclude bins 14 that extend laterally across a portion of a length ofthe frame 12. As will be described in more detail below, the bins 14 areconfigured to hold agricultural products, such as seed and/or treatment(e.g., fertilizer, pesticides, etc.), for dispensing into and/or ontothe ground. In some embodiments, the bins 14 may be divided intomultiple containment sections that are each configured to hold distincttypes of agricultural product. For instance, as illustrated by thecentral bin 14 shown in FIG. 1, the bins 14 may be separated in half, soas to include a forward containment section 14 a and a rearwardcontainment section 14 b. As such, the forward containment section 14 amay be configured to hold a first type of agricultural product (e.g.,seed), while the rearward containment section 14 b may be configured tohold a second type of agricultural product (e.g., treatment). As usedherein, the term “treatment” may refer to fertilizers, pesticides,herbicides, nutrients, or other additives used in connection withseeding.

To facilitate dispensing of agricultural product from the drill 10, thedrill 10 may additionally comprise a plurality of metering devices 16secured to a bottom side of the bins 14, such as illustrated in FIG. 2.In instances in which the bins 14 are divided into multiple containmentsections, embodiments may provide for a plurality of metering devices 16to be secured to a bottom of each containment section. Nevertheless, aswill be described in more detail below, the metering devices 16 areconfigured to precisely meter agricultural product from the bins 14 intoor onto the ground. To accomplish such metering, the drill 10 mayinclude a primary driveshaft 18 (See FIGS. 3 and 4) that extends througheach of the metering devices 16 and rotates components of the meteringdevices 16 such that agricultural product can be removed from the bin14, conveyed through the metering devices 16, and dispensed from thedrill 10 into or onto the ground. As shown in FIG. 3, in someembodiments, each of the metering devices 16 may include a product tube19 secured to a bottom end the metering device 16 and which extendsdownward towards the ground. In such embodiments, agricultural productmay be metered from the bins 14 via the metering devices 16, anddispensed into or onto the ground after passing (e.g., falling) throughthe product tubes 19.

Beginning with the bins 14, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the bins 14 maycomprise a generally rectangular container configured to holdagricultural products (e.g., seed and/or treatment). Turning to FIGS. 3and 4, a bottom section 20 of the bins 14 may be formed in a triangularor funnel shape. In some embodiments, the bins 14 may include anindividual bottom section 20 associated with each containment section(e.g., each containment section 14 a, 14 b). The bottom sections 20 may,in some embodiments, be detachable from remaining portions of the bins14. In alternative embodiments, the bottom sections 20 may be integratedas a unitary element of the bins 14. As perhaps best shown in FIG. 4,the bottom section 20 may include a plurality of product openings 22formed through the bottom of the bottom section 20. In some embodiments,such as when the bottom section 20 is formed in a triangular shape withtwo inwardly-angled side panels 24 extending along a length of thebottom section 20, the product openings 22 may be formed through only asingle one of the side panels 24, as illustrated in FIG. 4.Specifically, the product openings 22 may begin at a bottom edge of thebottom section 20 (i.e., where the side panels 24 meet) and extendupward along one of the side panels 24.

Embodiments provide for the metering devices 16 to be secured to anexterior side of the bottom of the bottom section 20, with each meteringdevice 16 being positioned in alignment with one of the product openings22 (See FIG. 3). The metering devices 16 are described in more detailbelow; however, it is noted that the metering devices 16 will eachinclude a plurality of tabs 26 (e.g., four tabs 26) extending from anupper surface of the metering device 16, as illustrated in FIG. 5, andwhich are configured to slidingly engage with slots 28 formed in thebottom section 20 of the bin 14 for purposes of securing the meteringdevice 16 to the bottom section 20 of the bin 14.

Given the configuration of the bins 14 (and particularly the bottomsections 20 of the bins 14), agricultural product held within the bins14 will be funneled downward under the force of gravity towards theproduct openings 22, such that the agricultural product can pass throughthe product openings 22 to the metering devices 16 that function todispense the agricultural product from the bins 14 into or onto theground. To promote efficient funneling and mixing of the agriculturalproduct within the bins 14, some embodiments may provide for each of thebins 14 to include a mixing assembly (not shown) extending through theinterior space of the bin 14. Such mixing assemblies may include arotatable shaft that extends through a length of the bin 14 and includesa plurality of mixing arms extending therefrom. Embodiments may providefor the rotatable shaft to be rotated in different directions and/or atdifferent rotational speeds. Alternatively, the rotatable shaft mayrotate at a generally constant speed and direction. Regardless, rotationof the rotatable shaft will cause the mixing arms to mix theagricultural product within the bins 14 so as to ensure proper mixing,funneling, and flow of the agricultural product through the bin 14. Insome additional embodiments, oscillators and/or agitators may be used toensure proper mixing, funneling, and flow of the agricultural productthrough the bin 14.

In addition, to facilitate proper funneling and complete flow of theagricultural product through the bins 14, embodiments of the presentinvention provide for the bins 14 to each include a plurality of flowtents 30 (See FIGS. 4 and 5) secured within an interior of the bins 14,and particularly to an interior side of the bottom of the bottomsections 20 of the bins 14. With reference to FIGS. 6-9, the flow tents30 may each be configured as a thin section of material with a generallydiamond shape. The flow tents 30 may each have a bend along acenterline, such that the flow tent 30 is formed with twodownwardly-sloping triangular sides that causes the flow tent 30 to beformed in a “tent-like” configuration. As such, when the flow tents 30are inserted within the bins 14, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the flowtents 30 will extend upward from an interior bottom side of the bottomsection 20 such that the bend along the centerline is positioned higherthan the bottom edge of the bottom section 20 and/or the bin 14. In someembodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a single flow tent 30 will bepositioned between each adjacent pair of product openings 22. As such,the downwardly sloping sides of the flow tents 30 can function asdeclining planes that guide agricultural product downward to the productopenings 22. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, upper surfaces ofthe flow tents 30 may be formed with grooves or depressions 31 thatfurther facilitate the flow of agricultural product downward towards theproduct openings 22. Such grooves or depressions 31 may also improve thestrength and/or structural integrity of the flow tents 30. It should beunderstood that many prior art bins, which did not include such flowtents 30, were known to unwantedly retain agricultural product withinthe interior of the bins 14 (e.g., on the bottom, interior surface ofthe bottom section 20 of the bins 14 between the product openings 22).Such unwanted retainment of agricultural product caused incompletedispensing of agricultural product during operation of the drill 10, andfurther required difficult and time-consuming cleanout operations toremove the retained agricultural product from the bin 14.

Embodiments provide for the flow tents 30 to be formed from a generallythin, flexible material, such as plastic, which can be plasticallydeformable yet rigid enough to form and retain the tent-like shape. Asshown in FIGS. 6-9, the flow tents 30 may be formed with one or moreattachment or hook elements 32 extending from a bottom surface of theflow tents 30. Such hook elements 32 are configured to be insertedwithin small openings (not shown) formed in the bottom section 20 of thebins 14 so as to hold the flow tents 30 in position between the productopenings 22 (with such positioning illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5). Assuch, the flow tents 30 can be inserted into and removed from the bins14 by hand, without need of tools.

Furthermore, with reference to FIGS. 6-9, the flow tents 30 may includeedge elements 34 that extend circumferentially about the flow tents 30.The edge elements 34 of the flow tents 30 may be formed with a thicknessT1 that “thins out” or reduces with respect to a thickness T2 of themain, inner (or central) portions of the flow tents 30 (See FIG. 9). Asshown in FIG. 9 the main, inner portions of the flow tent 30 has arelatively large thickness T2 in comparison to the thickness T1 of theedge element 34. It is noted that the thickness T1 of the edge elementsreduces generally linearly moving outwardly from the main, innerportions of the flow tents 30. Given that the thickness T1 of the edgeelements 34 is smaller than the thickness T2 of the main, inner portionsof the flow tent 30, the edge elements 34 of the flow tents 30 can bendor flex with respect main, inner portions of the flow tents 30. As aresult, and as perhaps best illustrated in FIG. 10, the edge elements 34can flex upward (with respect to the main, inner portion of the flowtent 30) so as contact the side panels 24 of the bottom section 20 ofthe bin 14 in a manner that creates a living seal between the flow tent30 and the interior surfaces of the bottom sections 20 of the bins 14.Such a sealing requires no additional sealing material (e.g., epoxy).Nevertheless, the living seal is sufficient to prevent agriculturalproduct from working its way underneath the flow tents 30, between theflow tents 30 and the bottom section 20 of the bins 14, as theagricultural product flows through the bins 14.

Given the configuration of the flow tents 30 described above, and withreference to FIG. 5, a left corner of each flow tent will be sealinglysecured (via a living seal) to the bottom edge of the bottom section 20adjacent to a first product opening 22. The edge elements 34 of eachflow tent 30 will extend upward along the side panels 24 (with the edgeelements 34 forming a living seal with the side panels 24) to the middlecorners of the flow tent 30 (i.e., formed at the bend in the centerlineof the flow tent 30). The middle corners form the pinnacle of the flowtent 30 that extends upward the highest magnitude above the bottom edgeof the bottom section 20 of the bin 14. The edge elements 34 of eachflow tent 30 will extend downward from the middle corners along the sidepanels 24 (with the edge elements 34 forming a living seal with the sidepanels 24) to a right corner that will be sealingly secured to thebottom edge of the bottom section 20 adjacent to a second, adjacentproduct opening 22. As noted above, given the position (i.e., betweenproduct openings 20) and the shape (e.g., tent-like) of the flow tents30, the flow tents 30 are configured to guide the flow of agriculturalproduct downward within the bins 14, such that the agricultural productflows towards the product openings 22 and does not become unwantedlyretained within the seed bins 14. In some embodiments, however, the flowtents 30 may not form a living seal with the bins 14 at all locations atwhich the flow tents 30 make contact with the bins 14. For example, thelower corners of the flow tents 30 may not have a reduced thicknessand/or may not form a living seal with the bottom edge of the bottomsection 20 of the seed bins 14.

Turning now to the metering devices 16 in more detail, as illustrated inFIGS. 11-14, each metering device 16 may comprise an upper housing 40, alower housing 42 removably engaged with the upper housing 40, a meteringassembly 44 (See FIGS. 13 and 14) removably secured within an interiorof the upper and/or lower housing 40, 42, and a gate assembly 46 (SeeFIGS. 13 and 14) removably secured within an interior of the upperand/or lower housing 40, 42. In operation of the drill 10, a pluralityof the metering devices 16 may be secured to an exterior bottom surfaceof the bin 14, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thus, agricultural product canbe passed from the bin 14 to the seed meter 16, such that the meteringassembly 44 can convey the agricultural product through the meteringdevice 16 and out of the metering device 16 where the agriculturalproduct is dispensed into or onto the ground.

In more detail, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 the metering device 16 maybe secured to the bin 14 via the hooks or tabs 26 extending from theupper housing 40. Turning to FIGS. 15 and 16, the upper housing 40 maypresent a product inlet 47 through selective opening of a first productdoor 48 and a second product door 49 slidingly engaged with the top endof the upper housing 40. Each of the product doors 48, 49 can beslidingly actuated between a closed position and an open position. Inthe closed position (e.g., slid downward as shown in FIG. 11), theproduct doors 48, 49 restrict agricultural product from entering themetering device 16. In contrast, in the open position (e.g., slid upwardas shown in FIGS. 15 and 16), the product doors 48, 49 permitagricultural product to enter the metering device 16 via the presentedproduct inlet 47. In some embodiments, each of the product doors 48, 49can be partially opened to various levels of extension (i.e., positionsbetween completely closed and completely open) so as to regulate howmuch agricultural product can be provided into the metering device 16.FIG. 17 shows a portion of the first product door 48 cut away toillustrate notches 50 formed on the back side of the first product door48 that are configured to engage with a flexible tab 51 protrudingupward from the upper housing 40. When the protruding tab 51 is engagedwith one of the notches 50, such engagement can secure the first productdoor 48 open in the particular level of extension associated with thenotch 50. The first product door 48 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 18and 19, with the notches 50 particularly illustrated in FIG. 19. Theback side of the second product door 49 may be similarly formed withnotches 50 for maintaining the second product door 49 open at variouslevels of extension. The second product door 49 is shown in more detailin FIGS. 20 and 21, with the notches 50 particularly illustrated in FIG.21.

As will be described in more detail below, the interior space of themetering device 16 may be divided into two agricultural product sections(e.g., a first agricultural product section and a second agriculturalproduct section), such that two different types of agricultural productcan be separately processed through the metering device 16. Tofacilitate such separate processing, the first and second product doors48, 49 can be individually actuated. For instance, in order to supply afirst agricultural product from the bin 14 to the metering device 16,the first product door 48 can be opened, as shown in FIG. 15, and thesecond product door 49 can remain closed. As such, the firstagricultural product can be passed form the bin 14 to the interior spaceof the metering device 16 via the product inlet 47 presented by theopened first product door 48. In contrast, to supply a secondagricultural product from the bin 14 to the metering device 16, thesecond product door 49 can be opened, as shown in FIG. 16, and the firstproduct door 48 can be closed. As such, the second agricultural productcan be passed from the bin 14 to the interior space of the meteringdevice 16 via the product inlet 47 presented by the opened secondproduct door 49.

Turning to FIG. 22, upon agricultural product being received into theupper housing 40 of the metering device 16, via the product inlet 47presented by either the first product door 48 or second product door 49,the agricultural product can be conveyed through metering device 16, viathe metering assembly 44. By way of such conveyance, the agriculturalproduct can be dispensed from the lower housing 42 via a product outlet52. As illustrated in the drawings, the lower housing 42 may be shapedgenerally as a funnel with an upper end secured to the upper housing 40and the product outlet 52 positioned a bottom end of the lower housing42. As such, agricultural product can be dispensed from the meteringdevice 42 via the product outlet 52 of the lower housing 42. In someembodiments, as noted previously, a product tube 19 may be secured tothe bottom end of the metering device 16 (e.g., attached to the productoutlet 52), such that agricultural product will exit the metering device16 by passing through the product outlet 52 to the product tube 19.Regardless, embodiments provide for agricultural product to be dispensedfrom the metering device 16 and/or from the product tube 19 into and/oronto the ground.

Embodiments provide for the metering devices 16 to convey various typesof agricultural products. To facilitate such conveyances, the meteringassembly 44 of the metering device 16 may comprise a plurality ofmetering wheels (e.g., a first metering wheel 53 and a second meteringwheel 54), as perhaps best illustrated in FIGS. 23-26, each beingparticularly configured to convey a particularly type of agriculturalproduct. As noted previously, the metering assembly 44 may be removablefrom the upper and lower housings 40, 42. FIGS. 13 and 14 illustratesthe metering assembly 44 removed from the upper and lower housings 40,42. To facilitate such removal, an access door 55 may be hingedlysecured to the upper housing 40 so as to be shiftable from a closedposition to an open position. With the access door 55 in the openposition, as shown in FIG. 14, the access door 55 provides access to theinterior space of the metering device 16 via an opening presented by theopen access door 55. Through the opening provided by the access door 55,the metering assembly 44 can be inserted into and/or removed from themetering device 16 by hand, without the use of tools. FIGS. 12 and 13illustrated the access door 55 in the closed position. In somealternative embodiments, the metering devices 16 may not include anaccess door 55, such that access to the interior space of the meteringdevices 16 is constantly provided. In certain embodiments, the accessdoor 55 may be formed with a raised outer surface, which extends awayfrom the upper housing 40 so as to present an overflow channel 55 a, asillustrated in FIG. 13. With reference to FIG. 22, the overflow channel55 a allows for agricultural product to be expelled or spilled out fromthe metering device 16 through the overflow channel 55 a withoutdamaging the components of the metering device 16 should a blockage ofagricultural product form in the metering device 16 or downstreamtherefrom.

Turning to the metering assembly 44 in more detail, as shown in FIGS.23-26, the metering assembly 44 may comprise a sub-shaft 56, the firstmetering wheel 53 positioned on the sub-shaft 56, the second meteringwheel 54 positioned on the sub-shaft 56, and a divider 57 positioned onthe sub-shaft 56 between the first metering wheel 53 and the secondmetering wheel 54. The sub-shaft 56 may comprise an elongated, hollowcylinder with an interior passageway having a surface shaped to conformto an exterior surface of the primary driveshaft 18 (not shown in FIGS.23-26) associated with the drill 10. As was discussed above, withrespect to FIGS. 3 and 4, the drill 10 may comprise the primarydriveshaft 18, which extends through each of the metering devices 16that are attached to the bin 14 of the drill 10. The primary driveshaft18 extending through a metering device 16, and particularly through thesub-shaft 56 of the metering device 16, is shown in more detail in FIG.27. The primary driveshaft 18 may be caused to rotate by a power system(not shown) of the drill 10. Such power system may take various forms.For instance, the power system may comprise a chain gear system that isactuated by the drill's 10 movement over the ground. Such actuation ofthe chain gear system can, thus, impart rotation to the primarydriveshaft 18.

Rotation of the primary driveshaft 18 is configured to cause acorresponding rotation of the metering wheels 53, 54 of the meteringdevices 16. Specifically, rotation of the primary driveshaft 18 willcause a corresponding rotation of each of the sub-shafts 56 throughwhich the primary driveshaft 18 extends. To facilitate suchcorresponding rotation, as perhaps best illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26,an exterior surface of the sub-shaft 56 may be formed with one or morelongitudinally-extending grooves or keyways 58, which as will bediscussed in more detail below, may be used to secure the meteringwheels 53, 54 onto the sub-shaft 56 such that rotation of the sub-shaft56 (via rotation of the primary driveshaft 18) will cause acorresponding rotation of the metering wheels 53, 54.

The metering wheels 53, 54 may each comprise a hollow interior sectionand a fluted exterior section. The interior section may include one ormore protrusions or keys 59, as illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26, whichare configured to be received in the grooves of the sub-shaft 56 whenaligned. As such, the metering wheels 53, 54 may be slid onto thesub-shaft 56 and secured in place via engagement between the keys 59 (ofthe metering wheels 53, 54) and the keyways 58 (of the sub-shaft 56),such that rotation of the sub-shaft 56 will cause a correspondingrotation of the metering wheels 53, 54. The exterior sections of each ofthe metering wheels 53, 54 may include a number of flutes or concavegrooves within which agricultural product (e.g., seed or treatment) canbe received or captured for rotation through the metering device 16. Thesize of the flutes can vary depending on the type and size of theagricultural product intended to be processed by the metering device 16.In some embodiments, the flutes of the first metering wheel 53 may belarger than the flutes of the second metering wheel 54, such that thefirst metering wheel 53 is configured to capture and/or convey (e.g.,via rotation) agricultural product that is larger than the agriculturalproduct that is intended to be captured and/or conveyed (e.g., viarotation) by the second metering wheel 54. For example, the firstmetering wheel 53 may be configured to capture and convey relativelylarge-sized seed, while the second metering wheel 54 may be configuredto capture and convey relatively small-sized or fine seed.

In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 25-26, each of the meteringwheels 53, 54 may comprise two halves that individually make up one halfof the respective metering wheel 53, 54. The halves of the meteringwheels 53, 54 may each include the flutes on their exterior sections andthe keys 59 on their interior sections. When the halves are securedtogether to from the metering wheels 53, 54, the flutes of one of thehalves may be misaligned with the flutes of the other one of the halves.Such misalignment of the flutes may provide for a consistent andaccurate conveyance of agricultural product through the metering device16. In addition, when the halves of the metering wheels 53, 54 aresecured together, the keys 59 on the interior sections of the halves ofa given metering wheel 53, 54, may be aligned so as to permit themetering wheels 53, 54 to engaged with the sub-shaft 56. Such alignmentmay be facilitated by the use of protrusions and corresponding cavities.For example, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, each of the halves of thefirst metering wheel 53 (e.g., the metering wheel with the largerflutes) may be formed with an elongated protrusion 53 a and an elongatedcavity 53 b on an interior side of the half. As such, the elongatedprotrusion 53 a of a first half of the metering wheel 53 can engagewithin the elongated cavity 53 b of a second half of the metering wheel53, and the elongated cavity 53 b of the first half of the meteringwheel 53 can engage within the elongated protrusion 53 b of the secondhalf of the metering wheel 53, so as to ensure proper alignment of thehalves of the metering wheel 53. Similarly, each of the halves of thesecond metering wheel 54 (e.g., the metering wheel with the smallerflutes) may be formed with a nub-like protrusion 54 a and a dimple-likecavity 54 b on an interior side of the half. As such, the nub-likeprotrusion 54 a of a first half of the metering wheel 54 can engagewithin the dimple-like cavity 54 b of a second half of the meteringwheel 54, and the dimple-like cavity 54 b of the first half of themetering wheel 54 can engage within the nub-like protrusion 54 a of thesecond half of the metering wheel 54, so as to ensure proper alignmentof the halves of the metering wheel 54.

In some further embodiments of the metering assembly 44, as illustratedin FIGS. 25 and 26, may include a biasing element, such as wave spring60, positioned over the sub-shaft 56 and between the halves of the firstmetering wheel 53 (e.g., the metering wheel with the larger flutes). Thewave spring 60 will be configured to force the halves of the firstmetering wheel 53 at least partially apart, so as to provide for properspacing of the halves of the metering wheel 53 and/or to provide forproper alignment and positioning of the overall metering assembly 44within the metering device 16. Proper spacing/alignment/positioning isbeneficial, for instance, so as to ensure that the metering assembly 44can be properly received within and can operate appropriately within theinterior space presented by the upper and/or lower housings 40, 42 ofthe metering device 16.

The metering assembly 44 may, as noted above, additionally comprise adivider 57 configured to be positioned on the sub-shaft 56 between thetwo metering wheels 53, 54. As such, the divider 57 may comprise a flat,plate-like element with an aperture for receiving the sub-shaft 56. Thedivider 57 may have an elongated shape that is configured to extenddownward from the sub-shaft. As such, when the metering assembly 44 isinstalled within the interior space of the metering device 16, asillustrated in FIG. 28, the divider 57 is configured to divide theinterior space of the metering device 16 into a first product space 61 aand a second product space 61 b. Thus, agricultural product provided tothe metering device 16 will be conveyed by the metering assembly 44through either the first product space 61 a or the second product space61 b.

In more detail, with the first product door 48 in the open position (asillustrated in FIG. 15), a first type of agricultural product from thebin 14 can pass into the metering device 16 whereby the first meteringwheel 53 can capture and convey the first type of agricultural productthrough the interior space of the metering device 16. Furthermore, dueto the divider 57 separating the interior space into the first andsecond product spaces 61 a, 61 b, as shown in FIG. 28, the first type ofagricultural product will be conveyed through the first product space 61a by the first metering wheel 53. In contrast, with the second productdoor 49 in the open position (as illustrated in FIG. 16), a second typeof agricultural product from the bin 14 can pass into the meteringdevice 16 whereby the second metering wheel 54 can capture and conveythe second type of agricultural product through the interior space ofthe metering device 16. Furthermore, due to the divider 57 separatingthe interior space into the first and second product spaces 61 a, 61 b,as shown in FIG. 28, the second type of agricultural product will beconveyed through the second product space 61 b by the second meteringwheel 54. In some alternative embodiments, both product doors 48, 49 maybe opened simultaneously to permit a significant quantity ofagricultural product to flow through the metering device 16.

Beneficially, because the metering assembly 44 is removable from theremaining components of the metering device 16, the metering assembly 44can be efficiently accessed for cleaning, maintenance, and/or repairwithout requiring that the entire metering device 16 first be removedfrom the seed bin 14. Such removal of the metering assembly 44 can alsobe used to efficiently facilitate the changing out of meteringassemblies, such as may be required to integrate different types orsizes of metering wheels within the metering device 16. For instance, iflarger or small metering wheels are needed for a particular seeding ortreatment dispensing operation, removal of the metering assembly 44 willpermit the changing or replacement of the metering wheels with minimaleffort. Furthermore, if the first and second product doors 48, 49 of themetering device 16 are retained in their closed positions, the meteringassembly 44 can be removed from the remaining components of the meteringdevice 16 even while the bin 14 is filled with agricultural product.

To remove the metering assembly 44 of a given seed meter 16, the primarydriveshaft 18 may be removed from the seed meter 16. Next, the accessdoor 55 may be opened (as shown in FIG. 14) and the metering assembly 44can be extracted from the interior space of the metering device 16. Uponremoval, the components of the metering assembly 44 (e.g., the sub-shaft56, the metering wheels 53, 54, and/or the divider 57) being removedfrom the interior space of the metering device 16, such components canbe disassembled from each other for cleaning, maintenance, repair, etc.Thereafter, the components of the metering assembly 44 can be assembled(re-assembled) to for insertion into the interior space of the meteringdevice 16. Specifically, the first metering wheel 53 can be slid ontothe sub-shaft 56 (with the keys 59 of the first metering wheel 53 placedin alignment and engaged with the keyways 58 of the sub-shaft 56). Next,the divider 57 can be slid onto the sub-shaft 56 to a position adjacentwith the first metering wheel 53. Finally, the second metering wheel 54can be slid onto the sub-shaft 56 (with the keys 59 of the secondmetering wheel 54 placed in alignment and engaged with the keyways 58 ofthe sub-shaft 56) to a position adjacent with the divider 57. Uponassembly of the metering assembly 44, the metering assembly 44 can beinserted within the interior space of the metering device through theopening presented by the access door 55 in the open position. To holdthe metering assembly 44 in place within the interior space of themetering device 16, each side panel of the upper housing 40 may beformed with a concave-shaped indentation 63, as shown in FIG. 14,configured to receive and retain a free end of the sub-shaft 56. Suchindentations 63 present openings through each of the side panels of theupper housing 40. As such, the sub-shaft 56 is can be engaged with theupper housing 40 and retained in a position at which the interiorpassageway of the sub-shaft 56 is aligned with a center of the openingspresented by the indentations 63 formed in the side panels of the upperhousing 40. In such a position, the primary driveshaft 18 of the drill10 can extend simultaneously through the openings of the side panels ofthe upper housing 40 and through the interior passageway of thesub-shaft 56. As was described above, such a configuration permits theprimary driveshaft 18 to cause a rotation of the metering wheels 53, 54of the metering assembly 44. Furthermore, because the primary driveshaft18 can simultaneously extend through a plurality of metering devices 16that are attached to a bottom of the bin 14 (and particularly throughthe sub-shafts 56 of each of the metering devices 16), rotation of theprimary driveshaft 18 is configured to simultaneously rotate each of themetering wheels 53, 54 of the metering devices 16.

In addition to the metering assembly 44, certain embodiments of thepresent invention will provide for the metering device 16 to include thegate assembly 46, which was previously illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14.Turning to FIGS. 29-32, embodiments provide for the gate assembly 46 tocomprise a product gate 64, a gate stop 65, and a gate key 66. Theproduct gate 64 may comprise a base 67 and an elongated, arcuate gatevalve 68 extending from the base 67. When installed within the meteringdevice 16 during operation, as perhaps best shown in FIGS. 22 and 34,the gate valve 68 will be spaced below the metering wheels 53, 54 so asto provide a product channel 69 through which agricultural product canbe conveyed by the metering wheels 53, 54. The size of the channel 69can be adjusted by adjusting a position of the gate valve 68 withrespect to the metering wheels 53, 54. For instance, shifting the gatevalve 68 downward will create a larger channel 69. Such a larger channel69 may be preferable when using the metering device 16 to dispenserelatively large agricultural products from the bin 14 (e.g., largeseeds). Alternatively, shifting the gate valve 68 upward towards themetering wheels 53, 54 will create a smaller channel 69. Such a smallerchannel may be preferable when using the metering device 16 to dispenserelatively small agricultural products from the bin 14 (e.g., finseeds). Ensuring the appropriate size of channel 69 fora givenagricultural product will ensure consistent and accurate flow of suchagricultural product through the metering device 16. In someembodiments, it may be preferable to reduce the product channel 69 to aminimum such that the gate valve 68 is forced upward into contact withthe metering wheels 53, 54.

As will be described in more detail below, the position of the gatevalve 68 (and thus the size of the channel 69) can be shifted by asecondary driveshaft 70, which as illustrated in FIG. 3 can extendthrough each of the metering devices 16 of the drill 10. Specifically,the secondary driveshaft 70 may extend through each of the gateassemblies 46 of the metering devices 16, such that rotation of thesecondary driveshaft 70 will cause a corresponding adjustment to thepositions of each of the product gates 64, and particularly to the gatevalve 68, with respect to the metering assemblies 44. The secondarydriveshaft 70 can be rotated by various components or methods. Forinstance, as illustrated in FIGS. 27 and 34, in some embodiments, thesecondary driveshaft 70 may be connected to a handle or lever 71, whichcan be manually adjusted by an operator of the drill 10. The lever 71may be securely held in various positions, which correspond with thesecondary driveshaft 70 and/or the gate valve 68 being securely held invarious positions. As was noted above, the gate valve 68 beingpositioned at various positions (e.g., further away from or closer tothe metering wheels 53, 54) will provide for the channel 69 to have acorrespondingly larger or smaller size. It is noted that a single lever71 may be used to rotate the secondary driveshaft 70, such that thepositions of each of the gate valves 68 of the metering devices 16through which the secondary driveshaft 70 extends can be simultaneouslyadjusted. As an alternative to the lever 71, the secondary driveshaft 70may be connected to a motor or gear system, which can actuate thesecondary driveshaft 70 automatically or from a remote command providedby the operator of the drill 10 (e.g., from a cab of the tractor pullingthe drill 10).

As illustrated in FIGS. 31 and 32, the gate stop 65 may comprise ahollowed barrel section 72 and a flange element 73 extending from thebarrel section 72. The gate stop 65 may further comprise a biasingelement 74, which as will be discussed in more detail below, may be usedto maintain the product gate 64 (including the gate valve 68) in anintended position within the interior space of the metering device 16.In some embodiments, the biasing element 74 will comprise a spring. Inmore detail, the gate stop 65 will generally be positioned within areceiving area presented by the base 67 of the product gate 64 (SeeFIGS. 29 and 30). The receiving area may be a generally rectangular areadefined by, as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, a top side 80, a bottom side82, a pair of lateral sides 84, and back side 86. In some embodiments,an exterior surface of the back side 86 may provide a continuationsurface of the gate valve 68.

The gate stop 65 may be positioned within the base 67 of the productgate 64, as illustrated in FIGS. 29 and 30, such that the interiorpassageway presented by the barrel section 72 of the gate stop 65 isaligned with openings 88 (See FIGS. 31 and 32) formed through both thelateral sides 84 of the product gate 64. In such a position, the biasingelement 74 will extend between a bottom surface of the flange element 73of the gate stop 65 and a top surface of the bottom side 82 of theproduct gate 64. In such a configuration, the biasing element 74 can beused to bias the gate valve 68 in a particular position, such that ifthe gate valve 68 is forced downward (e.g., via a force applied to anupper surface of the gate valve 68), the biasing element 74 willfunction to counteract such downward force, as will be discussed in moredetail below.

The gate assembly 46 may be held in position within the interior spaceof the metering device 16 via the gate key 66. Specifically, the gatekey 66 is configured to secure the remaining components of the gateassembly 46 to the upper housing 40. In more detail, a lower, front sideof the upper housing 40 may include a pair of openings 89, asillustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, extending through the side panels of theupper housing 40. The assembled gate assembly 46 can be inserted intoengagement with the upper housing 40 of the metering device 16, suchthat the interior passageway of the barrel section 72 of the gate stop65 (as well as the openings 88 in the lateral sides 84 of the productgate 64) is aligned with the openings 89 formed in the side panels ofthe upper housing 40. In some embodiments, the gate assembly 46 may onlybe inserted into in engagement with the metering device 16 when thelower housing 42 has been removed from the upper housing 40. Regardless,with the gate assembly 46 positioned in alignment with the upper housing40 of the metering device 16, as described above, the gate valve 68 willextend downward and/or rearward from the upper housing 40 (See, e.g.,FIG. 35), while forward portions of the product gate 64 and the gatestop 65 will extend forward from the upper housing 40. To retain thegate assembly 46 in such position and in engagement with the upperhousing 40, the gate key 66 can be inserted through the openings 89 inthe upper housing 40, through the openings 88 in the product gate 64,and through the interior passageway of the gate stop 65 (See, e.g., FIG.35).

With reference to FIGS. 31 and 32, the gate key 66 may be shaped as agenerally hollow cylinder, with a flange extending around acircumference of one end of the cylinder. The exterior surface of thegate key 66 may include one or more longitudinally-extending protrusions90. Such protrusions 90 are configured to engage with correspondinglongitudinally-extending grooves formed on the interior surface of theinterior passage way of the barrel section 72 of the gate stop 65. As aresult, the gate key 66 and the gate stop 65 can be rotationallycoupled/engaged, such that rotation of the gate key 66 will cause acorresponding rotation of the gate stop 65, and vice versa.

One of the openings 89 through the upper housing 40 may be formed so asto include a notch 92 within the side panel of the upper housing 40, asis shown in FIG. 14. In such a configuration, the gate key 66 may onlybe inserted into and/or removed from the opening 89 of the upper housing40 when one of the protrusions 90 of the gate key 66 is aligned with thenotch 92 of the opening 89. As such, once the product gate 64 and thegate stop 65 are inserted within the interior space of the upper housing40 of the metering device 16 (as discussed above), the gate key 66 canhold such components in place by inserting the gate key 66 through theopenings 89 in the upper housing 40, through the openings 88 in theproduct gate 64, and through the interior passageway of the gate stop65.

However, as was noted above, to insert the gate key 66 through theopenings 89, the gate key 66 must be orientated such that one of theprotrusions 90 of the gate key 66 is aligned with the notch 92 of theopening 89 formed in the side panel of the upper housing 40. Tofacilitate proper alignment for insertion, the flange of the gate key 66and the exterior surface of the side panel of the upper housing 40 mayinclude one or markings to help illustrate when proper alignment hasbeen obtained to permit insertion of the gate key 66 through the opening89. For example, as shown in FIG. 35, both the gate key 66 and the sidepanel of the upper housing 40 may be formed with an arrow marking, suchthat alignment of the arrow markings indicates proper installationalignment between the protrusions 90 of the gate key 66 and the notch 92of the opening 89 of the side panel of the upper housing 40. Upon properinstallation alignment, as indicated by aligning the arrow markings(See, e.g., FIG. 35), the gate key 66 can be inserted within theopenings 89 of the upper housing 40. It is also noted that the gate key66 may, in some embodiments, only be removed from the openings 89 of theupper housing 40 when properly aligned (e.g., by aligning the arrowmarkings as shown in FIG. 35).

In more detail each of the protrusions 90 of the gate key 66 must alsobe aligned with corresponding grooves formed in the barrel 72 of thegate stop 65 to permit the gate key 66 to be inserted through the gatestop 65. Given such alignment requirements between the gate key 66 andthe gate stop 65, when the gate key 66 is aligned and inserted withinboth the openings 89 and the gate stop 65, the gate valve 68 willgenerally not be positioned in a normal operating position that is to beused when the metering device 16 is operating to dispense agriculturalproducts. Instead, the gate valve 68 will be positioned in aninstallation position, as illustrated in FIG. 35, which provides for thegate valve 68 to be spaced significantly apart from the metering wheels53, 54. In such a configuration, the gate valve 68 is generallyorientated downward so as to maximize the size of the channel 69. Inaddition to the installation position, and as will be discussed in moredetail below, the gate valve 68 can be actuated to a cleanout positionas illustrated in FIGS. 36 and 37. In such a cleanout position, the gatevalve 68 may be spaced apart from the metering wheels 53, 54 an extentthat is in between the installation position and an operational position(described below). Such positioning of the gate valve 68 permitsagricultural product to flow generally freely through the meteringdevice 16, such as may be required when cleaning out the metering device16 and/or the bin 14 to which the metering device 16 is secured. In thecleanout position position, the arrow of the gate key 66 may be rotatedat least partly upward, out of alignment with the arrow on the upperhousing 40 (See FIG. 36).

From the installation position and/or from the cleanout position, thegate valve 68 can be actuated to an operating position by rotating theproduct gate 64 upward, as is illustrated in FIG. 22. In the operatingposition, the arrow of the gate key 66 may be rotated upward (e.g.,directly upward), significantly out of alignment with the arrow on theupper housing 40, as shown in FIG. 12. In more detail, the secondarydriveshaft 70 can be inserted within the interior channel of the gatekey 66. It should be understood that the surface of the interior channelof the gate key 66 will generally have a shape that corresponds with ashape of the exterior surface of the secondary driveshaft 70, such thatrotation of the secondary driveshaft 70 will cause a correspondingrotation of the gate key 66. Beneficially, rotation of the gate key 66by the secondary driveshaft 70 will cause a misalignment of theprotrusions 90 of the gate key 66 and the notch 92 of the opening 89 inthe side panel of the upper housing 40, which will restrict the gate key66 from being removed from the upper housing 40. Such rotation will alsocause a misalignment of the arrow marking of the gate key 66 and theside panels of the upper housing 40, as shown in FIG. 12. In such aconfiguration (i.e., with the protrusions 90 of the gate key 66misaligned with the notch 92 of the opening 89), the gate key 66 will berestricted form being removed from the openings 89 (as well asrestricted from being removed from the product gate 64 and the gate stop65). As such, embodiments provide for the gate key 66 to be rotatedbetween an unlocked position and a locked position. When in the unlockedposition, the gate key 66 can be removed from the upper housing 40. Whenin the locked position, the gate key 66 is restricted from being removedfrom the upper housing 40. Once the gate key 66 has been removed fromthe upper housing 40, the remaining components of the gate assembly 46can also be removed from the upper housing 40.

With reference to FIGS. 29 and 30, rotation of the gate key 66 (ascaused by the rotation of the secondary driveshaft 70) will cause acorresponding rotation of the gate stop 65 due to the engagement betweenthe protrusions 90 of the gate key 66 with the grooves formed in thebarrel 72 of the gate stop 65. Correspondingly, rotation of the gatestop 65 will cause a rotation of the product gate 64 (including the gatevalve 68) due to the engagement of the gate stop 65 with the base 67 ofthe product gate 64. Specifically, an upper surface of the gate stop 65will generally be positioned adjacent to (and engaged with) an innersurface of the top side 80 of the gate stop 65. In addition, the biasingelement 74 of the gate stop 65 will generally be positioned adjacent to(and engaged with) an inner surface of the bottom side 82 of the gatestop 65. As such, rotation of the gate stop 65 will cause acorresponding rotation of the product gate 64. As a result of suchengagement, the gate valve 68 can be shifted upward from theinstallation position (e.g., FIG. 35) to an operational position (e.g.,FIGS. 12 and 22) by rotating the secondary driveshaft 69.

As was described above, the gate valve 68 can be positioned in variousoperating positions, which each correspond to a different channel 69size (i.e., the size of the channel presented between the gate valve 68and the metering wheels 53, 54). Beneficially, in some embodiments, thegate valve 68 may be formed with a slit-like opening 94 (See, e.g., FIG.32) that receives the divider 57 (See FIG. 33), such that the gate valve68 may be shifted upward and downward within the metering device 16without the divider 57 interfering with the movement of the gate valve68. The closer the gate valve 68 is to the metering wheels 53, 54, thesmaller the channel 69. And the further the gate valve 68 is from themetering wheels 53, 54, the larger the channel 69. As such, thesecondary driveshaft 70 can be used to position the gate valve 68 in theintended operating position required to generate the channel 69 sizenecessary for conveying a particular type or size of agriculturalproduct. Furthermore, because the secondary driveshaft 70 extendsthrough each of the metering devices (See FIG. 3), the operatingposition of each of the gate valves 68 of the metering devices 16associated with a given bin 14 can be controlled simultaneously.

In operation, a plurality of the metering devices 16 will be secured toa bottom side of the bins 14 of the drill 10, as illustrated in FIG. 3.For each of the metering devices 16, one of the product doors 48, 49will be configured in the open position, such that agricultural productwill be permitted to flow from the associated bin 14 into the meteringdevice 16. As was described above, if the first product door 48 is open,a first type of agricultural product (e.g., large seed) can flow fromthe bin 14 into the first product space 61 a of the metering device 16,such that the first metering wheel 53 can convey the first type ofagricultural product through the metering device 16 for dispensing fromthe drill 10 and into and/or onto the ground. Alternatively, if thesecond product door 49 is open, a second type of agricultural product(e.g., small, fine seed) can flow from the bin 14 into the secondproduct space 61 b of the metering device 16, such that the secondmetering wheel 54 can convey the second type of agricultural productthrough the metering device 16 for dispensing from the drill 10 and intoand/or onto the ground.

FIG. 22 illustrates agricultural product flowing through the meteringdevice 16 with the gate valve 68 in one of the normal operatingpositions. As illustrated, agricultural product will flow from the bin14 into the interior space of the metering device 16 via the productinlet 47 (e.g., through one of the open product doors 48, 49). Theagricultural product is propelled through the interior space of themetering device 16 via rotation of the metering wheels 53, 54 of themetering assembly 44. Specifically, agricultural product will becaptured by the flutes on the metering wheels 53, 54, such that rotationof the metering wheels 53, 54 will convey the agricultural productcounterclockwise (when viewing FIG. 22), around the interior space ofthe metering device 16 to the product gate 64. At such point, themetering wheels 53, 54 continue to convey the agricultural productthrough the channel 69 presented between the metering wheels 53, 54 andthe gate valve 68 of the product gate 64 until the agricultural productpasses over the gate valve 68 and falls out of the metering device 16through the product outlet 52. As should be apparent, the size of thechannel 69 can be selected to permit a particular type and size ofagricultural product to be efficiently conveyed through the meteringdevice 16. For larger agricultural product, the size of the channel 69can be increased by positioning the gate valve 68 further away from themetering wheels 53, 54 by rotating the gate assembly 46 via rotation ofthe secondary driveshaft 70. Alternatively, for smaller agriculturalproduct, the size of the channel 69 can be decreased by positioning thegate valve 68 closer to the metering wheels 53, 54 by rotating the gateassembly 46 via rotation of the secondary driveshaft 70.

Furthermore, the gate valve 68 of the product gate 64 is configured toflex downward so as to prevent potential jamming and damaging of themetering device 16. For instance, as illustrated in FIG. 38, if a largeobstacle 95 or piece of debris enters the metering device 16 (along withthe agricultural product), the obstacle 95 will be conveyed by themetering wheels 53, 54 in a manner similar to that described above withrespect to the agricultural product. If, however, the obstacle 95 is toolarge to pass through the channel 69 presented between the meteringwheels 53, 54 and the product gate 64, the product gate 64 is configuredto rotate, thereby permitting the gate valve 68 to flex downward, so asto as to temporarily enlarge the channel 69 to a size sufficient toallow the obstacle 95 to pass without damaging components of themetering device 16. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 38, the product gate64 can be forced to rotate clockwise (as viewed from FIG. 38) about anaxis presented by the gate key 66 under pressure from the obstacle 95.Such rotation of the product gate 64 provides for the gate valve 68 toflex downward to enlarge the channel 69 a sufficient amount to permitthe obstacle 95 to pass. Of note, the downward flexing of the gate valvewill generally be only temporary because during rotation of the productgate 64, the base 67 of the product gate 64 will compress the biasingelement 74 against the gate stop 65. After the obstacle 95 has passedthrough the channel, the biasing element 74 will force the product gate64 to rotate back to its previous operating position. As such,embodiments of the present invention provide for the channel 69 to betemporarily enlarged so as to prevent jamming and damage to componentsof the metering device 16 in instances where large obstacles or debrisare received in the metering device 16.

Embodiments of the present invention further provide for the meteringdevices 16 to be easily disassembled by hand. Such disassembly permitsefficient cleaning and maintenance of the metering devices 16, as wellas to permit the metering devices 16 and/or the bins 14 to beemptied/cleaned of agricultural product. As was noted previously, themetering devices 16 may each comprise an upper housing 40 and a lowerhousing 42. Embodiments of the present invention provide for the lowerhousing 42 to be removed from the upper housing 40. Such removal may beperformed by hand, without the need for physical tools.

In more detail, each of the metering devices 16 may comprise asecurement assembly that provides for the upper and lower housings 40,42 to be removably engaged with each other. As illustrated in FIGS. 13and 14, the securement assembly may comprise a plurality of projections100 extending exteriorly from the side panels of the upper housing 40.In addition, the securement assembly may comprise a plurality ofcorresponding receiving hooks 102 extending upward from the lowerhousings 42. In alternative embodiments, the projections 100 may beformed on the lower housing 42, while the receiving hooks 102 may beformed on the upper housing 40. Nevertheless, to secure the upperhousing 40 to the lower housing 42, the upper and/or lower housings 40,42 can be manipulated until the projections 100 are received withinnotches presented by the receiving hooks 102, such as illustrated inFIG. 12.

In additional embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12, the securement assemblymay further include a spring lock 104 positioned on a front side of themetering device 16 (i.e., opposite the gate assembly 46), which can aidin securing the upper and lower housings 40, 42 together. The springlock 104 may be configured as a snap latch comprising, as illustrated inFIGS. 13 and 39, a lower latch element 106 extending inward from thelower housing 42 and an upper catch element 108 extending outward fromthe upper housing 40. In some embodiments, the spring lock 104 mayadditionally include a cantilevered beam 109 that extends outwardly fromthe lower housing 42. As such, when the lower latch element 106 isengaged with the upper latch element 108, as shown in FIG. 12, thespring lock 104 functions to lock the upper housing 40 in engagementwith the lower housing 42. Beneficially, however, because the receivinghooks 102 support the projections 100 when the upper and lower housings40, 42 are secured together, the spring lock 104 is not required tosupport a significant amount of weight or stress (e.g., resulting fromthe weight of the metering device 16 and any agricultural product heldtherein). For example, the spring lock 104 may be configured to notexperience stress forces due to the engagement between the upper andlower housing 40,42 during normal field operations of the drill 10.However, it should be appreciated that in some instances (e.g., thedrill 10 encountering an obstacle or travelling over uneven terrain),various components of the drill 10 (e.g., one or more of the meteringdevices 16) may experience stresses that are imparted to the spring lock104. As illustrated in FIG. 39, the spring lock 104 can be unlocked byhand (i.e., without the need for tools) by manipulating the cantileveredbeam 109 in such a manner that the lower latch element 106 is pulledaway from the upper latch element 108 until the bump of the latchelements 106, 108 are disengaged from each other. Upon the spring lock104 being unlocked (See FIG. 39), the lower housing 42 can be removedfrom the upper housing 40 by shifting the lower housing 42 upward and/orrearward until the projections 100 on the upper housing 40 aredisengaged from the receiving hooks 102 of the lower housing 42 (SeeFIG. 40). As such, the lower housing 42 can be removed from the upperhousing 40 by pulling the lower housing 42 downward, away from the upperhousing by hand, without the need for tools.

With the lower housing 42 removed, the interior space of the upperhousing 40 of the metering device 16 can be accessed for maintenance,repair, calibration, or the like. In addition, agricultural productremaining in the metering device 16 and/or in the associated bin 14 canbe quickly removed (i.e., cleaned out). To facilitate such a clean out,the gate assembly 46 may be actuated such that the gate valve 68 is in acleanout position. In particular, the secondary driveshaft 70 can berotated to the position illustrated in FIG. 36. As such, the gate valve68 will be actuated downward from the operating position to the cleanoutposition, as illustrated in FIG. 37. As was noted previously, in thecleanout position, the gate valve 68 will generally be positioned apartfrom the metering wheels 53, 54 a distance that lies between theoperating position and the installation position. In such aconfiguration, the channel 69 between the metering wheels 53, 54 and thegate valve 68 is enlarged from a normal operating position so as topermit the generally free flow of agricultural product through themetering device 16. It should be understood that embodiments of thepresent invention permit the removal of the lower housing 42 from theupper housing 40 even while the gate assembly 46 is in the cleanoutposition.

Embodiments provide for the removal of the lower housings 42 of themetering devices 16 to also facilitate calibration of such meteringdevices 16. Calibration may be used to refer to the rate at whichagricultural product is conveyed through and/or dispensed from themetering devices 16. In more detail, embodiments of the presentinvention may include a calibration system 110, as illustrated in FIG.41-44, which may comprise a tray 111 and one or more connectionassemblies that permit the tray 111 to be secured to one or more upperhousings 40 of metering devices 16, as such upper housings 40 aresecured to the bottom of a bin 14. In some embodiments, the connectionassemblies may include components that are similar to, or the same as,lower housings 42, with such components secured to an upper portion ofthe tray 111. Further reference to such components of the connectionassemblies of the calibration system 110 will be as lower housings 42.

The tray 111 may comprise a generally rectangular receptacle forreceiving agricultural product. The lower housings 42 of the calibrationsystem 110 may be configured similar to or the same as the lowerhousings 42 previously described with respect to metering devices 16,i.e., funnel shaped, includes the receiving hooks 102, and thecomponents of the spring lock 104 (See FIG. 41). The one or more lowerhousings 42 of the calibration system 110 may each be secured to thetray 111 via a connection brackets 112. In some embodiments, theconnection brackets 112 may be slidingly secured to the tray 111, suchas via a sliding rods 114 that extend along upper portions of the sidesof the tray 111. As such, the position of the one or more lower housings42 may shifted as necessary at any location along the length of the tray111. The sliding rods 114 may, in some embodiments include stop elements115 that prevent the lower housings 42 from sliding off the sliding rods114.

To perform a calibration of a single metering device 16, the lowerhousing 42 of the metering device 16 may be removed from the upperhousing 40. Next, a calibration system 110 with a single lower housing42 may be secured to the upper housing 40 of the metering device 16. Toaccomplish such securement, the receiving hooks 102 of the lower housing42 of the calibration system 110 may be engaged with the projections 100of the upper housing 40 of the metering device 16. In addition, thelower latch element 106 of the lower housing 42 of the calibrationsystem 110 may be engaged with the upper latch element 108 of the of theupper housing 40 of the metering device 16 to securely lock the upperand lower housings 40, 42 in place.

In such a configuration, the tray 111 will be securely held in positiondirectly below the metering device 16. As such, the metering device 16can be operated so as to convey and/or dispense agricultural product.Furthermore, the metering device 16 can be operated for a given periodof time so as to dispense a quantity of agricultural product into thetray 111. Upon the expiration of the given period of time, operation ofthe metering device 16 can be halted, and the actual amount ofagricultural product retained within the tray 111 can be measured (e.g.,weighed) and compared with expected amounts. If the actual amounts ofagricultural product retained within the tray 111 differ from theexpected amounts, then the metering device 16 can be re-calibrated toincrease or decrease the rate at which the metering device 16 conveysand/or dispenses agricultural product. Such re-calibration can be madethrough adjustment of the channel 69 size (i.e., the distance betweenthe gate valve 68 and the metering wheels 53, 54, which may be adjustedvia rotation of the secondary driveshaft 70), changing the size and/ortype of the metering wheels 53, 54 (e.g., by removing the meteringassembly 44 and replacing the metering wheels 53, 54 with differenttypes and/or sizes of metering wheels), adjusting the rotational rate ofthe primary driveshaft 18, actuating the product doors 48, 49 to be moreopened or more closed (e.g., expanding or restricting the product inlet47 presented by the open product doors 48, 49), or other adjustments.

In embodiments in which a plurality of metering devices 16 requirescalibration, a calibration system 110 with at least two lower housings42 can be used, such as illustrated in FIGS. 41 and 42. Specifically,the tray 111 may include two lower housings 42, with one beingpositioned generally at each end of the tray 111. To begin calibrationof the plurality of metering devices 16, the lower housings 42 of eachof the plurality of metering devices 16 can be removed from theirrespective upper housings 40. Next, the two lower housings 42 of thecalibration system 110 can be secured to the upper housings 40 of theouter two metering devices 16 from the plurality metering devices 16requiring calibration, as illustrated in FIGS. 43 and 44. Suchconnection can be made via engagement of the receiving hooks 102 andprojections 100, as well as the spring locks 104 (See FIGS. 41 and 42),as was previously described. In some embodiments, the positions of oneor both of the lower housings 42 of the calibration system 110 may needto be shifted along the length of the tray 111 to ensure properalignment with the appropriate upper housings 40 of the outer twometering devices 16 of the plurality of metering devices 16 to becalibrated. Specifically, the lower housings 42 can be shifted via thesliding of the connection brackets 112 along the sliding rods 114. Uponsuccessful securement of the calibration system 110 to the upperhousings 40 of the plurality of metering devices 16 to be calibrated,the outer two metering devices 16 as well as any metering devices 16between the outer two metering devices 16 can be operated (e.g., viaactuation of the metering assemblies 44) so as to dispense agriculturalproduct from the bin 14 to the tray 111. Such agricultural productreceived within the tray 111 can be measured and compared with expectedamounts. If the plurality of metering devices 16 require calibration toincrease or decrease the rate at which agricultural product isdispensed, such calibration can be performed as was previously describedwith respect to the single metering device 16.

An additional embodiment of a calibration system 120 is illustrated inFIGS. 45 and 46. In such embodiments, the calibration system 120 mayinclude a hanger assembly comprising a one or more hanger elements 122.The hanger elements 122 may be secured to the tray 111 via connectionwith the sliding rods 114. The hanger elements 122 may each include oneor more hooks on an upper end of the hanger element 122. The hooks areconfigured to be secured over the primary and/or secondary driveshafts18, 70, so as to secure the tray 111 of the calibration system 120 belowone or more metering devices 16. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 46,the calibration system 120 can be hung, via the hooks of the hangerelements 122, on the primary driveshaft 18, such that the tray 111 ispositioned below four metering devices 16. In some embodiments, one ormore of the hanger elements 122 may slide along the sliding rods 114,such that the position of the hanger elements 122 can be adjusted asnecessary to fit around or between the metering devices 16.

With the calibration system 120 configured as shown in FIG. 46, so as tobe positioned under a plurality of metering devices 16 (e.g., fourmetering devices), the plurality of metering devices 16 can be operatedso as to dispense agricultural product from the bin 14 to the tray 111.Such agricultural product received within the tray 111 can be measuredand compared with expected amounts. If the plurality of metering devices16 require calibration to increase or decrease the rate at whichagricultural product is dispensed, such calibration can be performed aswas previously described with respect to the single metering device 16.Beneficially, the calibration system 12 is secured in place via thehanger elements 122, such that the lower housings 42 of the meteringdevices 16 do not require removal from the upper housings 40 beforecalibration can be performed. Instead, the product tubes 19 (not shownin FIGS. 45 and 46) may simply be removed form the metering devices 16.In some further embodiments, the calibration system 120 may include arotatable handle that can be used to facilitate transport and storage ofthe calibration system 120.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the one ormore embodiments illustrated in the figures, it is understood thatequivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.

Having thus described one or more embodiments of the invention, what isclaimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includesthe following:
 1. An implement for dispensing agricultural product,wherein said implement comprises: a bin for holding agriculturalproduct, wherein said bin includes a plurality of product openings fordispensing agricultural product from said bin; a plurality of meteringdevices secured to a bottom of said bin and configured to receiveagricultural product from said bin through the product openings; and aplurality of flow tents positioned within said bin, with each flow tentbeing positioned between a pair of the product openings, wherein saidflow tents extend upward from an interior side of the bottom of said binso as to guide agricultural product towards the product openings.
 2. Theimplement of claim 1, wherein said flow tents are plasticallydeformable.
 3. The implement of claim 2, wherein said flow tents areformed from plastic.
 4. The implement of claim 1, wherein said flowtents have a generally diamond shape.
 5. The implement of claim 4,wherein each of said flow tents is bent along a centerline, such thatsaid flow tent forms a pair of sides that slope downward from thecenterline.
 6. The implement of claim 1, wherein said flow tents areconfigured to be securely engaged with and removed from said bin byhand, without the need for tools.
 7. The implement of claim 6, whereineach of said flow tents includes a plurality of hook elements extendingfrom a bottom side of said flow tent, wherein said flow tents aresecured with said bin via engagement between said hook elements and saidbin.
 8. The implement of claim 1, wherein each flow tent includes aperipheral edge with a thickness that is smaller than a thickness of acentral portion of said flow tent.
 9. The implement of claim 9, whereinthe peripheral edge of each flow tent is configured to contact surfacesof said bin, wherein the reduced thickness of the peripheral edge ofsaid flow tent is configured to bend to create a living seal betweensaid flow tent and the surfaces of said bin.
 10. The implement of claim1, wherein said implement comprises a seed drill.
 11. The implement ofclaim 1, wherein the agricultural product comprises seed.
 12. A flowtent for guiding agricultural product flowing through a bin, whereinsaid flow tent comprises: a thin, plastically deformable main body,wherein said main body is configured to bend along a centerline of saidmain body such that said main body presents a pair of sides that slopedownward from the centerline; and a plurality of attachment elementsextending from a bottom surface of said main body, wherein saidattachment elements are configured to engage with openings formed in thebin.
 13. The flow tent of claim 12, wherein said flow tent is formedfrom plastic.
 14. The flow tent of claim 12, wherein said flow tent hasa generally diamond shape.
 15. The flow tent of claim 12, wherein saidflow tents are configured to be securely engaged with and removed fromthe bin by hand, without the need for tools.
 16. The flow tent of claim12, wherein each flow tent includes an edge extending around a peripheryof said main body, wherein a thickness of said edge is smaller than athickness of said main body of said flow tent.
 17. The flow tent ofclaim 16, wherein the peripheral edge said flow tent is configured tocontact surfaces of the bin, wherein the reduced thickness of theperipheral edge of the flow tent is configured to bend to create aliving seal between the flow tent and the surfaces of the bin.
 18. Amethod of dispensing agricultural product from an implement, said methodcomprising the steps of: (a) inserting a plurality of flow tents intoengagement with a bin, wherein the flow tents are each positionedbetween a pair of product openings formed through a bottom of the bin;(b) adding agricultural product into the bin; and (c) dispensing theagricultural product from the bin through the product openings, whereinduring said dispensing of step (b), the flow tents guide theagricultural product towards the product openings.
 19. The method ofclaim 18, wherein upon the flow tents being inserted in step (a), theflow tents extend upward from a bottom of the bin, wherein each of saidflow tents is bent along a centerline, such that each flow tent forms apair of sides that slope downward from the centerline.
 20. The method ofclaim 18, wherein said inserting of step (a) includes creating a livingseal between peripheral edges of said flow tents and surfaces of thebin.